(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement after the Democratic-led Senate failed to pass government funding legislation to keep the government open:

“This is a dark moment in our nation’s history, and Utahns have every right to be disappointed in their government,” Hatch said. “The fact is that Senate Democrats failed to take common sense action to fund the government and change Obamacare to protect the American people. Republicans have listened to the American people who have been clear that they don’t think Obamacare is ready for primetime, and the House passed two pieces of legislation to fund the government while delaying the tax penalty for individuals, repealing the law's requirement that everyone purchase health insurance, and to repeal the $31 million medical device tax. The Obama Administration has delayed parts of the health law six times, and Congress has voted to change it seven more times because the law’s a disaster. Now, ObamaCare is going live and state after state is saying they don’t have confidence that people’s privacy will be protected or that folks won’t be defrauded. So why is it that the President can delay parts of ObamaCare, but Congress can’t? To not give individuals and hard-working families a reprieve from this disastrous law – the same treatment that employers have already been given by this White House - is nonsensical. That Senate Democrats shut down the government over listening to the American people is shameful."

(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement after the Democratic-led Senate failed to pass government funding legislation to keep the government open:

“This is a dark moment in our nation’s history, and Utahns have every right to be disappointed in their government,” Hatch said. “The fact is that Senate Democrats failed to take common sense action to fund the government and change Obamacare to protect the American people. Republicans have listened to the American people who have been clear that they don’t think Obamacare is ready for primetime, and the House passed two pieces of legislation to fund the government while delaying the tax penalty for individuals, repealing the law's requirement that everyone purchase health insurance, and to repeal the $31 million medical device tax. The Obama Administration has delayed parts of the health law six times, and Congress has voted to change it seven more times because the law’s a disaster. Now, ObamaCare is going live and state after state is saying they don’t have confidence that people’s privacy will be protected or that folks won’t be defrauded. So why is it that the President can delay parts of ObamaCare, but Congress can’t? To not give individuals and hard-working families a reprieve from this disastrous law – the same treatment that employers have already been given by this White House - is nonsensical. That Senate Democrats shut down the government over listening to the American people is shameful."